The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-02-15

buttOned his long rubber coat TO the
chin, was scuddying up Fourteenth
street i'm an demonstrating humor.
when this word burst from his lips in 4
tone of Amusement. Marie Prot had
Just passed him on the crossing at
Fourth avenue; a sudden backward
tilt of her umbrella had shown him
her face plainly, pale and strange.
with that absorbed, unseeing look that
mental suffering gives. Her swift step
faltered an instant at the sound of his
voice. and in an instant he Was by her
side.
al knew | could not be Mistaken"
he said, breathlessly: "but YOU, of all
people. and AT this hour! What i'm the
world brings YOU into this region?"
He is holding her hand i'm his warm.
friendly clasp, and looking down
ocarchingly at her haIf-averted face.
''Oh. was walking away from the
furies. she said, trying to speak hight
~, ''bui they have come with me.
think / really did not know where |
was going. I only wanted 10 walk.
Did YOU ever have that feeling. Syd-
n"y. that YOU were zoo unhappy 10 bee
Iuiet?''
'.Shr asks me if have ever had that
feeling. All, Marie. there are few
feelings. born of unhappine>S. that
have not had. You ought to know
that, my dear"
But but they pass away some
time. don't they? she asked. wist-
fully. People can 90 on suffering
some change, some relief. must come. "
Il don't know. hc answered. with
a long sigh. ''Pcrhap~. | have not
found il Vet.
ION. ~ dnry.' she SAID. passionate
ly, with wild burst "f tears sgd
ney, sydney she laid her check OH
his shoulder, sObbing like a child.
BY This time they had passed from
the glare of Fourteenth street and were
facing mp town again. lie had taken
the umbrella from her hand and held
lis shelter between them and pa>Ser>-
bv. Svdnev'S knowledge of suffering
had made him very tender toward the
pain Of others. He allowed hi> cum
,an!On Ia weep unqucSiiOncd. paiiIn@
gently from time la time the little
quivcrinC fingers that riu:chrd his arm.
"lIow good Won are" >hr >iammrrcd.
whiSpcringly, al length. ''Oh. sydney
how could Won forgive mellow could
YOU ever look upon me again If ! had
made YOU suffer like this? never
knew it could be- 80 terrible. did not
dream of what Won felt when We parted:
You were 80 noble and 30 COOL. You
never made me understand how cruel
-cruel-crucl-oh. and YOU bore il all.
can pity You now
"YeS. dear. he said. tenderly. Il
am glad 10 hear YOU say that am
glad YOU have, a last, some pity 10
give me.
''Oh. but YOU do not need any more.
Surely you cant care still a You used
To-
"Oh. hush" Sydney interrupted.
very gently: Hush. my dear. hush.
Marie, You have never understood mv
love if YOU think il could change or
pass away in a few months or years. "
And you do love me this minute
nOw-as you did them
"Always-always"'
But if should tell you that al
thrown my heart away. unasked. un-
sought-oh. 30 hopelesSly and vaiuly.
and if should say TO you: viii YOU
take my promise to be- your wifr-;ih.
not soon. but some time, when | am
better and happier woman?- If |
should ask You To accept the poor SER
vice of nv life and let me try Ia love
pain and trouble of the past?''
''Oh, Marie, YOU do not mean it?"
His grasp frightened on her fingers"
do YOU think what YOU are saying?"
''YA, yes, yes.-if YOU will take nv
poor, half-brOken heart but not yet,'
she checked herself piieou>ly. II could
not love you yet by and 10y it all may
come right. And meanwhile. if YOU
wish if, we can be engaged. You must
stay near me, Sydney. and bc good 10
me. Oh, help me!-help me 10 live.
You know how hard il is-how impos-
sible it seems that JOY or hope can ever
come again"
Fate did know what she was about,
a. she usually does if minds finite
could but compass her infinite plans.
A few days later brought Sydney
Worth the unexpected fullillment of a
hope that he had patiently placed Il
long way off i'm the future the full be-
stowal of Marie PirOt's love They
were driving through the park i'm
brilliant October sunset. and sydney
had been talking brightly of various
matters of interest, when he threw his
head back with short laugh, ami said
i'm a kind of triumphant tone:
well. was pleased to-day. Marie.
You remember that fellow | told you
of that had defaulted from our Office
with Il lot of money last week."
No. said Marie. vaguely. Did you
tell mc?" - -
Come to think of it, | didn't" said
sydney. smiling. That's so. | WAS
afraid it might annoy you. Well, its
all right now. They've got him at
least, not him, for he gave them the